Mining apparatus.



T. DE HOODE.

MINING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. 191|.

Patented June 12, 1917.

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T. DE ROODE.

MINING APPARA-TUS. lAPPALICATIGN FILED DEC29| 19H. v

Patented June 12, 1917,

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T; DE ROODE.

' MINING APPARATUS. APPLICATION msn DEc.29. 191|.

Q@ l Patented June 12, 1917.

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T. DE ROODE.

MINING APPARATUS. APPucATmM man nc.29 191|.

Patented J une 12, 1917.

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MINING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 12, 1917.

Application filed December 29, 1911. Serial No. 668,410.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, TRIMBLE DE Rooms, a subject of the Queen ofthe Netherlands, residing in the city, county, and State ot New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Mining rrpparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

My invention relates to an improved ap paratus to be used in connection with .minino', and particularly in connection with a new method of mining set forth in detail in my companion application Serial No. cesan.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section illustrating conventionally the first step of my improved process.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Figs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 are horizontal sectional views of progressive steps.

Figs. Ll-, 6, S, 10, 12 and lelare vertical sectional views of Figs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13, respectively.

Fig. 15 is a relatively enlarged detail view, conventional in character, o1 the shield or bulkhead and some oil the apparatus therein employed in carrying out my 11nproved method. l

Fig. 1G is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same apparatus, certain parts being omitted, or not seen.

Fig. 17 is a plan view with the shieldpartly in section, on a horizontal plane.

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the same apparatus partly in section.

At the outset I will describe in a general way my improved method of mining which comprises forming a cut in the material to be mined; placing therein a suitable shield 0r bulkhead having in advance thereoi:l a working space tted with suitable appar tus for performing the mining operation; advancing said bulkhead or shield and forming an outlet passage to the rear there of of less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the said working space and directing said shield in any desired course through the material to be excavated. As shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 to 14, such an apparatus may be caused to traverse completely a large tract of mining material, the shield being turned and started upon a reverse course by aplying more pressure to one side thereof than to the other and that part of the material actually removed to the surface represents a very small part of the material actually mined or operated on since the major part of said material is deposited behind the advancing shield; the minor part of said material, for example the coarser part, is removed through the primary outlet passage to a point outside of the entrance to the mine. Such a process is of material value when employed in an anti-debris section wherein there are objections to discharging from the mine the liner debris that tends to operate as a nuisance. The apparatus herein described comprehends such means as is necessary to extract the values of the material and separate and manipulate the balance in the manner heretofore referred to.

In the drawings, 7 represents the ladder of a digger which constitutes the preferable means for the main excavating work. This ladder is hinged at 7a and may be provided with a. suitable number of mechanically actuated excavating buckets 7l. 7C-7d are levers pivotally connected together, the former being also connected to the ladder 7, the latter being also pivotally mounted at 7e. 7f is a chain suitably driven and connected with the levers 7C- d to elevate the ladder 7. The entire digger thus described is mounted on a suitable carriage which is arranged to traverse a track 7g whereby said carriage may be moved transversely within the shield or bulkhead and so that the ladder 7 or digger will have the widest possible range of movement. The various details of construe tion for operating and driving the latter may be modified in a variety of ways unnecessary to describe herein. 8 conventionally represents a separating device for the excavated material while 11 represents a convenient pipe to convey the material eX- cavated by the digger 7 to said separating device 8. 9 represents conventionally a reiining apparatus. 10 conventionally represents a sluice-way. 11 represents one end of a casing which constitutes one end of the primary passage which enters the bulkhead from the rear. In the preferred form the casing 11 enters the rear of the bulkhead at one side of the center', as best seen in Fig. 17, and4 means 11a is provided whereby the point of elevation where said casing enters said shield or bulkhead may be varied as exigencies require. 12 is a discharge pipe lio through which the material to be restrained is passed from the inside of the shield or bulkhead to a point outside of and tothe rear thereof. 13 is a pipe which enters the shield from the rear, the purpose of said pipe being to drain sucli excess wateitas may be contained in the restrained material at the rear of the bulkhead, said drain pipe 13 leading, for example, to :the slu'ice box l0, as shown. 15 represents what kmay be termed a packing or gland of =any suitable construction ,arranged vexternally of the shield, the vfunction kof which is to prevent any excess of material to the 'rear of the bulkhead from leaking forward ofthe bulkhead or shield. 1G-16 are] independently Y operabley cutting lips suitably mounted at thel front of tl'i'e shield or Vbulkhead 'and arranged tto be forced ahead into 'the material to be excavated 'or in the path -of movement of the edge of the shield. Means for forcing said lips ahead may comprise hydraulic rains 16a. 17 conventionally represent driving wheels which may be of 'any suitable form and which are power driven, as by a ram 17a, the function of said wheels being to Aadvance or aid in vadvancing the shield. 18 are hydraulicvnozzles 'arranged :to swing 'as shown adjacent to the lips 16 to facilitate cutting' away the nia'terial to be Yexcavated in lfront of said lips. 19 represents a hydraulic supply Vpipe which communicates with 'any suitable 4source of power, for example,y outside ofV the mine, said supply 'pipe 19 leading through nthe primary passage within the casing 11.' The shield or `bulkhead referred to is constructed in kthe niain preferably of :two main parts; namely, a lower part 2O which vis U-shaped in horivZoi'ital cross section, and an upper part Yor 4roo-f V21 Vwhich surrounds the lower part 20 and overStand's'the same to form a roof to support the to'p wall or ceiling, thereby affording a thoroughly protected working space within rsaid shield or bulkhead, `open at the lfront for the work of excavating.

`22 'is a low seconda-ry bulkhead which extends across the front of the lower part 20 ofthe bulkhead, the function 'of said secondary kbulkhead being to protect lthe floor of the working space against anyinrush of water or material; forY example, in 'the event of'a cave-in. rIhe advantage of form- 'ing :the shield vor bulkhead of two sections QO-Qlis apparent since in some instances it might be desirable to work the cut to a higher or lower elevation, in which event lthe upper section 21 of the bulkhead or shield :array be elevated or depressed in a horizontal plane, said parts being slid'ably mounted one on 'the other land equipped 'with any'suitable jacking means suoli, for

n vexample,'as a hydraulic jack conventionally shown at VSuitable packings may, of course,b'e provided betweenthe overlapping portions of the shield members 20-21. Likewise suitable packings Ql may be provided for the adjustable entrance at the rear ofthe bulkhead for the casing 11 of the primary entrance and exit passage. As shownin Fig. 17, tlie broadest part of the shield -or bulkhead is at the frontend, the sides thereof converging toward the rear, the purpose being to make it possible to readily alter the direction or course of the shield as the work progresses. The preferlableline of convergei'ice of one side of vthe bulkhead ris preferably upon an arc 'having its center at the' opposite front edge Vof the bulkhead. The several 'lips 1G are provided with any suitable bearings; Ifor example, anti-friction rollers 1G", vsee I?.

In the specification I `have used thc terms bulkhead7 and shield and in order that the distinction may be clearly understood and for the purposes ofintelligently `reading the following claims, it should be understood that by the term bulkhead7 I mean a means to stand to the rear of the line of work lto advance therewith at a proper distance therefrom to furnish a proper adequate space. By the terni shield specifically, I

Amean means which primarily .supports Athe overhead material and which may be so constructedas to extend to the rear of the working'space so as to also perform the function of the bulkhead aforesaid. Either and both of these means constitute protecting means to prevent material from flowing into Vor falling into the working space. By the term walls as used, I `intend to include either the top, rear, or side walls.

` lhat I claim is: f

1. In an apparatus for mining, protecting means forming a working space'op'en at the front, means for 'transferring and`depositing to the rear of said protecting means a portion of the material excavated, means for 2. In an apparatus 'for mining, a protect# ing'ineans 'forming working space lopen at the front, means for transferring a portion 'of 'the excavated 'material from the working space to and depositing the saine at the rear of said`protec'ting means, means Vfor -restraining saidfdeposited material, said last mentioned 'ineans'havin'g a passage therethrough,

. and means extending tlirougrli said passage from lsaid working space K for transferring the balance of said material. Y.

3. vIn an apparatus for fminiiig, aaprotecting means furnishinga working space Atherein open at the front andarranged lto be ad-k l OO vanced and including a rear bulkhead, means for excavating in front of saidbulkhead and transferring and depositing a portion of the excavated material in a wet state to the rear of and against the bulkhead to aid in progressively advancing the latter.

a. In an apparatus for mining, a protecting shield furnishing a working space open at the front for excavation, hydraulic means for cutting away the material at the front of the shield, said shield having a protected outlet at its rear of less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the Working space Within the shield, and hydraulic means for transferring a part of the material excavated and depositing the saine directly behind the shield as the same is advanced, and for transferring a portion of said excavated nnrterial through said rear opening.

5. In an apparatus for mining, a movable shield open at the front having a rear outlet arranged at one side of the center thereof, means for excavating material in front of said shield, a protected passageway extending from said rear outlet, means for depositing excavated material at the rear of said shield and around said protected passage, and means for turning said shield in its direction of travel.

6. In an apparatus for mining, a movable bulkhead, means for excavating in advance of said bulkhead, means for transferring and depositing a part of the excavated material to the rear of and against said bulkhead to aid in advancing the latter, and means for turning said bulkhead in its path of travel, said bulkhead having an outlet passage extending through the deposited material.

7. In an apparatus for mining, a shield having a forwardly projecting cutting edge, the body of the shield to the rear of said cutting edge being contracted whereby the same may be turned in a substantially short circle.

8. In an apparatus for mining, a shield furnishing a Working space therein and arranged to be advanced through the material to be mined, a plurality of independently movable cutting lips at the forward edge of said shield and a hydraulic nozzle carried by each lip near its forward end to cut away material in advance of said lip, said nozzle being mounted to swing.

9. In an apparatus for mining, a shield arranged to be advanced through the material to be mined and furnishing a Working space therein, and a packing extending around the outer side of saidfshield to prevent the forvvard floiv of liquid past said shield from the rear.

10. In an apparatus for mining, a. movable shield arranged to be advanced open at the front end furnishing a Working space, a digger at the front and Within said shield comprising a manually controllable ladder having a plurality of movable buckets with mea; a; for changing the position of the for- Ward end of the ladder vertically, said means including a halyard connected with the ladder near its outer end, and a link connected with said halyard at a point near but spaced apart from its forward end, and a pivotal mounting for the rear end of said link below said halyard.

11. In an apparatus for mining, a shield arranged to be advanced open at the front end and furnishing a working space Within the same, a digging apparatus within said shield comprising a movable ladder having` a series of buckets carried thereby, a track for said ladder extending transversely of the shield and a carriage thereon supporting .c

said ladder, and means whereby the forward end of said ladder may be moved horizontally and vertically and whereby the buck ets thereon may be propelled.

12. In an apparatus for min-infr, a movable shield open at the front and having a rear outlet arranged at one side of the center thereof, means for excavating material in front of said shield, a protected passage Way extending from said rear outlet, and

means for depositing excavated material at the rear of said shield and around said protected passage Way.

13. In an appa 1atus for mining in a bore or cut, in combination, a bulk-head comprising transverse roof and base portions adjustable relatively to each other adapted to move toward the Working face of the material to be excavated, and means adapted to deposit part of the excavated material in .l

the bore or out in rear of said bulkhead.

14. In an apparatus for mining in a bore or cut, in combination, a bulk-head comprising a transversely and longitudinallycurved roof portion and a transverse curved base portion adjustable relatively to each other adapted to move toivard the Working face of the material to be excavated, and means adapted to deposit part of the excavated ma.- terial in the bore or eut in rear of said bulkhead.

15. In an apparatus for mining in a bore or cut, in combination, a bulk-head comprising a transversely and longitudinally curved transverse gland adapted to contact With said bore or cut, and a transversely curved base portion, the said gland and said base portion beingadjustable relatively to each other adapted to move tovvard the working face of the material to be excavated, and

means adapted to deposit part ofthe excavated material in the bore or eut in rear of said bulk-head.

16. In an apparatus for mining in a bore or cut, in combination, a bulk-head adapted to be moved toward the Working face of the material to be excavated, means adapted to deposit a portion of the excavated material in the bore or cut in rear of said bulk-head, and means whereby another portion of said excavated material may be conveyed through said material deposited in said bore or cut, comprising a manway through said bulkhead and extending rearwardly thereof.

17.111 an apparatus for lmining in a bore or out, in combination, a bulk-head adapted to be moved toward the working -face of the `material to be excavated, means yto be moved toward the working vface of the material to be excavated, means adapted to deposit a portion of the excavated material. in the bore or cut in rear of said bulk-head, a manway extending rearwardly of said bulk-head, means whereby another portion of said excavated material may be conveyed past said material deposited in said bore or out, comprising a passageway through said bulk-head and extending rearwardly thereof, and means adapted to establish va hydraulic current of another portion of said excavated material through said passageway.

19. n an apparatus for mining in a 'bore or cut,in combination, a bulk-head adapted to move toward the workingfface of the material to be excavated, said bulk-headfhaving` an opening, means adapted to deposit a portion of the excavated material in the bore or cut in rear oit' said bulk-head, means adapted to support a portion of saidrdeposited material so as to form a manway and a passageway extending through said Copies of this patent may be obtained for posit said* conveyed material in a manner deposited material connected with said opening in the bulk-head.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, means adapted to 'progressively'excavate material of a mass to vbe mined thereby forming an opening in said mass, means adapted to cause a liquid current to conveya liner portionot the excavated material to a point in said opening spaced from the f working face and to progressively deto rell said opening and form a working space between said deposited material and the working face, a lmovable bulk-'head adaptedV to bar return of any substantial amount 'of said deposited material to said working space, and means adaptedto remove a vcoarser portion of said excavated material from said opening. A

21. In an apparatusof the charac-terdescribed, 'in combination, means adapted to progressively excavate material of a mass to be mined thereby forming an opening in said mass, abulk-head adapted to be advanced as the 'excavation vprogresses and to be advanced relative to the advanceof the working face to maintain a working'space therebetween, 'means adapted to cause a liquid current to convey Va `portion of the excavated material to the rear of said bulkhead to eliiect the progressive deposition oi 75 said conveyed material in a manner to relill said opening to the "rear of the bulk-head, the `bulk-head 'being adapted to bar return 'of any substantial amount of said deposited material t said working space,'means adapted to return the excess liquid to said working space, and'mea'ns adapted to remove another portion of said excavated materialV from said opening.

` TRIMBLE Dn ROODE.

l/Vitnesses:

f E. E. MORSE,

L. S. JAMES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

